Bethe Correia: “I’m not afraid of bare-knuckle boxing”
Former UFC women’s bantamweight title contender Bethe Correia recently retired from active mixed martial arts competition, but she may not be done fighting entirely.
“I wanna compete, but not in MMA,” Correia told MMA Fighting. “I’ve received many offers from boxing, but let’s all calm down [laughs]. I just announced [my retirement from MMA]. Who knows, maybe I’ll compete somewhere, but MMA, [I’m done] forever.”
“I’m not afraid of bare-knuckle boxing because the UFC gloves, I always chose the smaller ones,” she continued. “It’s nothing. I don’t think it changes much. I see girls leaving with their hands injured because there is nothing protecting [their knuckles], but I would also like to try traditional boxing, too. I would like that adventure. Who knows, maybe I’ll have fun on both. The best offer [wins]. I think that’s very interesting.”
Correia, once the top contender in the UFC at 135-pounds, challenged then champion Ronda Rousey for the promotion’s title in August 2015. After suffering a first-round knockout loss to the ‘Rowdy’ one, Correia would only go on to win two more bouts in eight fights.
Correia retired from MMA with an 11-6-1 record.
If Bethe Correia turned to bare knuckle competition, she more than likely would receive an offer from Bare Knuckle FC where she would join the likes of other former UFC fighters who have chosen the same path.
